March, 1915. 



American Hee Journal 



almost altogether of six-sided cells of 

 two sizes; the great majority being 

 worker-cells, measuring live to the 

 inch. If the bees have been allowed 

 their own way, there will also be a 

 considerable number of drone-cells, 

 measuring four to the inch. At the 

 place in a comb where the bees change 

 from worker-cells to drone-cells, theri 

 will be found a few cells more or less 

 irregular in size and shape, called ac- 

 commodation cells. Beside these there 

 will be found, at least at times, a fourth 

 kind of cells, circular instead of hexa- 

 gonal, and measuring about three to 

 the inch, called queen-cells. 



Our present theme is the queen-cell, 

 concerning which the beginner does 

 not always have the clearest informa- 

 tion, and indeed those counted authori- 

 ties are sometimes in error, as when it 

 is said that three worker-cells are 

 blended into one to form a queen-cell. 

 If we consider the forms of queen- 

 cells, they may be divided into two 

 classes, pre-constructed and post-con- 

 structed. A pre-constructed cell is one 

 constructed as an empty cell, an egg 

 being deposited in it after it is built, 

 or at least partly built. Its bottom is 

 such as might be formed by pressing 

 into some plastic m iterial a marble 

 one-third of an inch in diameter, the 

 marble being pressed in half its depth. 

 A post-constructed cell, when carried 

 to completion, that is, after it has been 

 built out in full and sealed, cannot be 

 distinguished from a pre-constructed 

 one, although in general the pre-con- 

 structed one may average a little larger 

 and be a little more fully decorated on 

 i;s surface than a post-constructed 

 one. But tear away the cell and ex- 

 amine the base, and you will find a 

 radical difference. As already said, 

 the base of a pre-constructed cell is 

 one in which would fit a marble, while 

 the bottom of a post-constructed cell 

 will be found to be nothing more nor 

 less than a worker-cell. 



It is not difficult to watch the prog- 

 ress of a post-constructed cell. Remove 

 the queen from a colony which has not 

 already started queen cells, and within 

 24 hours you will be likely to find sev- 

 eral worker-cells whose mouths are 

 slightly enlarged, the outer edge of the 

 cell-walls appearing to be pressed out- 

 wards and changed into a circular in- 

 stead of hexagonal form. The occu- 

 pant of the cell will be a young larva — 

 rarely an egg — and as the work pro- 

 gresses the part that was originally a 

 worker-cell becomes filled with the 

 royal pap, and the larva is crowded 

 out into the later constructed and 

 larger part of the cell. The post-con- 



structed cell is appropriately so called 

 because all that distinguishes it as a 

 queen-cell is built tift,-?- the cell has 

 been occupied as a worker-cell; while 

 in the case of a pre-constructed cell 

 the cell is plainly started as a queen- 

 cell before there is any occupant. 



A post-constructed cell is probably 

 never built when a normal queen is at 

 liberty in the hive; and just as cer- 

 tainly a pre-constructed cell is never 

 built in a queenless colony. 



Sometimes queen-cells are classed as 

 swarm cells and supersed. ire-cells ; but 

 the line of demarcation between the 

 two classes is none too distinct. 

 Swarm-cells are those found present 

 when swarming occurs, and supersed- 

 ure-cells when the bees supersede their 

 queen without swarming. But there is 

 no visible difference between a swarm- 

 cell and a supersedure-cell, and it is 

 doubtful that there is a.iy invisible dif- 

 ference. The difference consists in the 

 different uses made of the cells, and 

 there is nothing very fixed about that; 

 for a cell seemingly intended as a 

 swarm-cell may become a supersedure- 

 cell, and -rice lersa. 



When a colony prepares for swarm- 

 ing, a dozen swarm-cells, more or less, 

 will be started and occupie I. If all 

 goes well, swarming is likely to occur 

 about the time the first queen-cell is 

 sealed. But if, about that time or a 

 little sooner, circumstances become 

 unfavorable for swarming, such as the 

 drying up of all nectar or continued 

 unpropitious weather, then swarming 

 will be given up, and if the ruling 

 queen be young and vigorous all 

 queen-cells will be destroyed. But if 

 the queen be old or in any other way 

 unsatisfactory, then the first hatched 

 virgin will be allowed to supersede the 

 old queen, all other cells being de- 

 stroyed. Thus the cells originally 

 considered swarm-cells have become 

 supersedure-cells without any change 

 whatever in the cells themselves. 



When the beekeeper accidentally or 

 intentionally kills a queen, the bees 

 will promptly start cells to reai a suc- 

 cessor, and these cells may properly be 



considered supersedure-cells. But if 

 this occurs with a strong colony at 

 swarming time, the chances are that a 

 swarm will issue, the supersedure-cells 

 thus becoming swarm-cells. 



Left to its own devices, a colony will 

 rarely be found with post-constructed 

 cells, since it probably rarely happens 

 that a queen is killed in a colony un- 

 molested by the beekeeper. 



While the difference between a 

 swarm-cell and a supersedure-cell is 

 something that even the most experi- 

 enced cannot decide by inspection of 

 the cells, yet it is at times important to 

 make such decision. In a certain col- 

 ony queen-cells are found, let us %\y. 

 If they are intended for swarming, it 

 may be desirable to destroy them in 

 the effort to prevent immediate swarm- 

 ing. If, on the other hand, the cells 

 are intended for supersedure, then it 

 may be best to leave them. By no 

 possibility can the beekeeper decide 

 from the appearance of the cells, nor 

 indeed can he make a positive decision 

 in any other way, but attending cir- 

 cumstances will usually enable him to 

 make a pretty fair guess. Three fac- 

 tors help to make the guess : The time 

 in the season, the number of cells, and 

 the age of the queen. If it be out of the 

 usual swarming time, if only two or 

 three cells are started, and the queen 

 be old, it is a very safe guess that 

 supersedure is intended. At the usual 

 swarming time, if a dozen cells or so 

 are found, with a vigorous young 

 queen, then it is morally certain that 

 swarming is in contemplation. It 

 should be said, however, in passing, 

 that the number of cells started for 

 swarming varies greatly with the kind 

 of bees. Cyprians, for instance, may 

 start 50 or more cells. 



These three factors may be com- 

 bined in such a way as to make the 

 guess more difficult. The number of 

 cells is probably the most reliable fac- 

 tor. If only two or three cells are 

 found at a time when they are well ad- 

 vanced, then it is a very safe guess 

 that no swarming is intended. 



C. C. M. 



Miscellaneous ^ News Items 



Massachusetts Convention of Beekeep- 

 ers and Apiary Inspectors.— This con- 

 vention was held at the Massachusetts 

 .Agricultural College, on farmers' week, 

 March 1-5, lli and 17. Programs and 

 information can be had at the Exten- 



sion Service of the college, at .\mherst- 

 The inspectors' special meeting on the 

 third day, will be open t i all. 



In addition to the convention, dis- 

 plays and demonstrations of apiarian 

 implements will be special features. A 



